‘Women in Sports Conference’ encourages women athletes to aim high

Over 1,000 female student-athletes met for the 10th-annual “Women in Sports” conference on Feb. 9, hosted by the Citrus Belt Area Athletic Directors Association. These athletes, ranging from ninth to twelfth grade, were chosen by their coaches to attend the conference alongside other students from Kern, Riverside, and San Bernadino counties.

This year, Burroughs had the opportunity to send Brooklyn Sizemore, Kaitlyn Klamt, Avery Crutcher, Marthina Torres, Lydia Washburn, Mia Evans, Brianna Tejeda, Isabella Lipinska-Hunt, Sarah Quick, Jayani Croos-Peterson, Zoe Stanford, Taylor Nagels, Amaya Charfauros, Rennee Mathewson-Martinez, Samantha Hibbs, and Breyer Moffitt to the conference.

Burroughs Athletic Director Michelle Lazaro was proud to be able to send the group to the conference.

“This conference is a great time to listen to other women who are leaders in the sports industry,” Lazaro said. “In this particular event, they learned from Desiree Remillet, an All American Softball player from the University of Hawaii, who is now an Information Technology Project Manager for Yaamava Resort.”

It was an amazing opportunity for our Burroughs athletes to learn about and converse with other women who participate in sports.

Freshman Brooklyn Sizemore, a Burroughs volleyball player, was thrilled at the opportunity to attend the sports conference with other women who share her passion for sports. Sizemore was especially inspired by the stories shared from other athletes, explaining the hardships and accomplishments that they had experienced.

“I was able to learn how these successful women were able to accomplish their dreams,” Sizemore said. “It truly took a lot of hard work and dedication for these women to get where they now are in their athletic careers.”

Four speakers of varying backgrounds presented from 9 am to 12 pm. The intent was to encourage the audience of high-achieving student-athletes to continue driving for greater goals and overcome any setbacks along the way.

Senior Zoe Stanford, a varsity volleyball, soccer, and swimmer, was excited to attend the conference.

“The conference was a way to celebrate women in sports and the progress that we have made in athletics,” explained Stanford.

Despite the hardships that athletes endure throughout their athletic endeavors,  they continue to push forward to achieve their goals.